Blue on Highland
It’s amazing to me how many cool, cutting edge restaurants are located in the suburbs these days. And this is yet another example: Blue on Highland in Needham, Massachusetts.
Blue was ahead of the curve bringing city-style eats to the suburbs. It’s been around since 2006, and it’s continued to grow and evolve over the years, and today it’s one of the top places to eat and drink in the entire region.
They call themselves a “modern American restaurant”, which basically means they have a lot of dishes you know and love, but they give them a bit of a cool, upscale twist.
So, appetizer wise, you have some great options… including Tuna Tartare. Of course, it starts with beautiful, fresh tuna that’s cut into cubes. That’s served over a bed of avocado so you get some extra creaminess. It comes with some super crispy fried wontons, so you can make yourself a little nacho situation. And you got a mix of three sauces on the plate: spicy mayo, honey wasabi, and sweet soy.
Honestly though, I think the best appetizer might be the fries. Specifically, the parmesan fries. So these are fresh, hand-cut, skin-on fries. Very crispy, yet still soft on the inside. They’re sprinkled with some herbs and parmesan cheese. And the truffle mayo dipping sauce, just simply rules.
There are nine farm-to-table salads on the menu here, and the one you gotta get is the Thai Steak Salad. I mean, it doesn’t really look or taste like a salad, but it’s listed in the salad section, so it’s gotta be healthy right? At any rate, It has grilled marinated steak tips, along with udon noodles, avocado, oranges, and a spicy Thai peanut dressing.
If you’re just coming for a beer and a burger, check out the Highlander. This is a burger designed for burger lovers, featuring a big, fresh-ground patty topped with Cabot Vermont cheddar, braised short ribs, and crispy fried onions. And… it comes with more of those awesome fries on the side.
Blue on Highland’s pizzas are super thin, almost personal sized, so they’re very crushable. They’re sort of like a South Shore style bar pizza, with the cheese stretching all the way to the end of the crust. I especially like the spicy salami pizza, it’s a tasty alternative to your standard pepperoni pie, topped with some hot oil and a hot honey drizzle.
Another Italian favorite is the Pasta Bolognese. I mean, tell me you don’t want to dive right into this bowl right now. It’s fresh rigatoni pasta, with a traditional mix of pork, beef, and veal in the meat sauce. And that little dollop of fresh ricotta over the top takes it to a whole other level.
They do a really good job with presentation here. And the scallops might be the prettiest dish on the menu. These are nice, plump, sea scallops from Stonington, Connecticut. They’re pan-seared with some lemon butter sauce. That’s plated up next to a row of parmesan risotto, and then another row of sauteed spinach. So you have the sweetness of the scallops, the cheesiness from the risotto, and the freshness of the spinach. Just a perfectly composed dish all around.
But if you’re more of a meat and potatoes kind of person, check out the Steak Frites. It starts with a 12 ounce flat iron steak, that gets grilled and sliced. They top it with some housemade garlic butter, so the beef just keeps getting better as the butter slowly melts into it. And it’s served with some sauteed spinach and almonds. And yes of course, it comes with even more fries!
Now for dessert, the one and only option you need to know about is this one: Nan’s Coconut Cake. And first I want to introduce you to Nan. Her name is Barbara Drago, she’s 83 years old. She’s the owner’s mother, she has 9 grandchildren, and she’s the only person who knows how to make this cake. She keeps the recipe secret, which you gotta respect. What I can tell you is that it’s made with moist yellow cake, and buttermilk frosting, all completely covered in shaved coconut. This is one of the best coconut cakes you will ever taste. And by the way… it goes perfectly with their signature Espresso Martini.
The bar is always busy here, it’s a good place for after work drinks or to just grab a beer with some buddies. And by the way, The spicy guava margarita is another cocktail I’d highly recommend.
But you can really come into Blue at anytime and you’ll have a good time. They’re open for lunch and dinner, and Sunday brunch. The dining room is nice and spacious, it’s pretty chic, so you’ll feel equally as comfortable bringing the family in for dinner, having a business lunch, or even going here for date night.
Overall, it’s definitely a standout restaurant in the suburbs: Blue on Highland in Needham, Massachusetts.
